CLAIRE Sweeney was turned down for a role in a Southport production of Chicago as a youngster.

CLAIRE Sweeney was turned down for a role in a Southport production of Chicago as a youngster.

But she’s definitely had the last laugh.

After being a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother in 2001, she was snapped up for the part of Roxie Hart in a West End production of the show.

She has also starred in Guys & Dolls and Dirty Dancing (opposite Patrick Swayze), worked as presenter and been involved with a variety of projects since her stint on the reality TV programme. And now she is set to star in Shout! opening in Bromley and starting a run at the Liverpool Empire next week.

Claire’s career has certainly come along way in the last 20 years from spending holidays with the Southport Summer Youth Theatre.

Back then she was just a teenager studying at Elliot-Clarke Stage School and says she remembers the train journey from Liverpool to Southport fondly.

“I was 14 and I was always desperate to do musicals,” she says. “I figured if I joined a youth theatre group in the summer it would give me experience. I loved it. I did Guys and Dolls in the West End with Chris Gee and he was also in the Southport Youth Theatre. I had lovely summers in Southport.”

Sefton’s community arts officer, Suzy Walker, remembers Claire from her Southport days: “She was a lovely, lovely young woman. She was the absolute loveliest girl, always happy and smiling. She was a real company member, no airs and graces, not diva-ish that’s how I remember her.”

Claire, who has been the Forces’ sweetheart, went to Italia Conti drama school in London after Elliot-Clarke and then started working on P&O cruises.

Her role as Lindsay Corkhill in Brookside came along next and more recently she has been presenting TV programmes including 60 Minute Makeover and ITV’s Loose Women. But she says what she is really looking forward to is bringing her latest project, Shout!, to Merseyside.

“It’s a Sixties show and it’s full of fantastic songs like Son of A Preacher Man,” says Claire. “It’s about three girls who come down from up North to live in London.”

Shout! is on at the Liverpool Empire from Monday, February 18, to Saturday, February 23. Tickets are from £8 to £25 on0870 607 7575.